Maturity…

Good afternoon dear reader & welcome to my world this week. Over the last few days, I came across a couple of articles on the similar topic regarding “red tape & costs still rising” [1], & “business costs rise like frog in boiling water” [2].

Both correspondents essentially suggested businesses are struggling to solve the government highlighted productivity woes due to increasing compliance. The cost of compliance for running business in New Zealand was estimated to be $5bn or 2.9% of GDP ~ from data in 2012. Apparently it gets worse, but let us not go there today.  Consequent pressure creating an imbalance in lost leadership time, & measured in further lost productivity, lost opportunity & management burn-out.

Hence my inspiration for the week. Given I too am in business, I can empathize with a continuing shift in the sand of compliance & I often wonder what part of every person not having the same learning skills does a government not understand. One wonders on the response from business, given this period of skill shortages. Hopefully, it will not be one of throwing the toys from the cot…

Indeed I suspect it is more a position of are we growing with maturity? Before you consider this question my friends, read these words:         Maturity is the ability to control your anger & settle your differences without violence or resentment. Maturity is patience; it is the willingness to pass up short term pleasure for long term gain. It is the ability to ‘sweat it out’ in spite of heavy opposition or discouraging setbacks.

Maturity is also the capacity to face unpleasantness & frustration without complaining or collapsing. Maturity is humility. It is big enough to say ‘I was wrong’ & when you are right, never needing to say: “I told you so.” Maturity is the ability to make a decision & follow through with it, instead of exploring endless possibilities & doing nothing about any of them. Maturity means dependability, keeping your word & coming through in a crises. [3]

Conversely, the immature are masters of alibi, they are the confused & the disorganised. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business although good intentions. But maturity is the art of being at peace with what you cannot change, having the courage to change what you can & the wisdom to know the difference. [4]

Many of my reflections this week dear reader are based upon being mature [I am unsure if I am even remotely close], & start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught [as good as I believe they were]. Given the changes & challenges which continue to surround us, no matter how limited our opportunities may be, we always have choices & decisions to make. Perhaps this is maturity?

Thank you for taking the time to be with me once again. I hope my journey may encourage you also. This is Kenn Butler in Paradise, Nelson. With my best wishes for another week… I look forward to being with you all again soon.
 


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